We need to vaccinate 12+

[ICECream821]

… over the summer! If we want any sort of ‘normality’ in winter we need to get the 12+ age range vaccinated.

As the cases are rising amongst the young un-vaccinated I did think the government might use this period of time to vaccinate the young before schools open again.

Very confused by this free for all. Especially over the summer holidays.

I’ll still be wearing masks as fully vaxxed. I think they could have opened up but people wear masks.

People under 18 are at very low risk from serious illness and death from Covid. They shouldn’t be vaccinated just to protect older people, who have already had the vaccine anyway.

Re: masks, judging by your post, you believe they work. Fair enough. You will also know that you are far far far more likely to catch covid from a close contact I.e. a family member, friend or close colleague. So, do you wear your mask when you are with a close contact? If not, why not? It would have a far greater impact than wearing it for 2 seconds to walk past a stranger in a supermarket. Think about it, and if you’re worried, adapt your own behaviour. You can’t control others.

They need to get all adults double vaxxed first. Under 30s won't have their second until August/September.

Not been wearing mask in close contact with immediate family (ie DH & kids) but haven’t been indoors with others - try to stay outdoors. Noticed in a big city at the weekend went for a walk at night lots of clubs and restaurants open I think the adults probably all in their 20s going into them (I’m expecting it was table service) but 1000s out. None wearing masks - so I guess the big spread is happening.

I think yes vaccine for kids to protect vulnerable adults. For example my SIL is CEV a severe respiratory illness if her kids could get the vaccine they would to protect their mum. The US is vaccinating kids?

Even if they did my eldest doesn’t want it, she’s old enough to decide what goes in her body and she has decided that benefits don’t outweigh the risk to her

I think it should be offered to teens. I don't agree the risk to them is zero from Covid. Their education will be disrupted if they get Covid, even a mild case as (unless we think even positive cases should not isolate!) they will be out for 10 days. Even a vaccinated teacher catching it is likely to be off more than 10 days, that's another disruption. We can look to the countries that are vaccinating teenagers to see the impact there, obviously if the vaccine negatively affects their teens that would be different.

The fact that the under 18's are more at risk from the vaccine on an individual basis is precisely why the JCVI hasn't recommended a programme of vaccinating for that age group. Because it would be balancing the benefit to the wider population against a very considerable risk to each child vaccinated. And at the moment the overall risks to individuals still outweighs any benefit to society. That may change of delta or new variants take off, but right now or simply doesn't.

Vaccinating older kids is not about them being seriously ill from the virus it’s about stopping the constant disruption to education, parents working, being able to book and plan things in advance, not missing exams. The effect on mental health of living in constant fear of isolation is damaging enough.

Good for you @ICECream821 if that's what YOU want to do, I wish people/msm would stop using kids as the next reason for the spread. Wake up ffs

Why do kids need vaccinating unless CEV and if you want them done , fine that's your call but stop speaking for everyone else. Would you do this with MMR jab, no I didn't think so.

Teachers etc have all had the chance to be vaccinated. It is not a child's job to protect an adult. They are at more risk from the vaccine than covid itself.

I actually despair at what I read on here these days.

In fact here is the original blurb I had with my vaccine, where does it say anyone under 65 needs it unless with the listed exceptions?

I know children with long covid and the impact is huge. I will be much happier when children are vaccinated but I fear that if 12+ are vaccinated the virus will mutate to spread among the younger ones as it looks for a host.

I thought the Pfizer has been found to be safe for kids over twelve?

What info are the countries that are vaccinating over 12s going on then or do you think they are risking every child's health by giving them a dangerous vaccine?

@x2boys

I thought the Pfizer has been found to be safe for kids over twelve?

It is. And the USA are vaccinating all over 12s while the under 12s study is ongoing.

I think part of the problem is, we have a limited supply of vaccines. The whole world wants them. Where do we get the millions of vaccines we’d need for children from? Do we delay the second doses of the 30s/20s beyond the 12 weeks? Do we focus on children instead of a booster campaign for the vulnerable? It’s not just a simple as start vaccinating, we need to have the vaccines available.

It should at least be offered to some over 12 such as those with neuro- disabilities, something which is known to put them at increased risk of being very unwell.

We haven't got enough Pfizer to offer it yet! The reason they are vaccinating at the rate they are is that is how much arrives each week. The decision not to use AZ for under 40's means we had to slow down the younger age groups. (It's the same reason many ru countries are behind us, they are restricting AZ to over 50's). If you are over 18 and unvaccinated you can request to have AZ to speed up your appointment I was told, but they aren't allowed to suggest it. (I know two late 20's who did 3 weeks ago)

The WHO has said that Pfizer is recommended for the over 12s. It's also said that, as young people are less likely to become seriously ill from Covid itself, there is less need to prioritise vaccinating younger age groups over other groups which have a greater clinical need.

It's not that the vaccine is 100% safe or 100% dangerous, but that the balance of risk profiles between children 12-18 and current state of wider society risk is not favourable enough. Yet. It's all about a sliding scale on wide, group, basis. We are phenomenally bad at communicating and understanding risk in a dispassionate manner in this country, and ad human nature anyway.

My 15yo is actually quite keen to have the vaccine and if it's offered I won't stop him. But that doesn't change the fact that at present the overall situation is such that JCVI don't feel it should be offered.

@Spikeyball

It should at least be offered to some over 12 such as those with neuro- disabilities, something which is known to put them at increased risk of being very unwell.

This what worries me, my son has severe autism and learning disabilities, he's physically healthy, and I have no reason to believe he would become unduly unwell with covid however the special high school he starts at in September includes some children who have profound and multiple learning disabilities, some are tube fed, on oxygen etc, they won't be in his class but they may still mix on transport these children need to be protected

Germany, France, USA & Israel all vaxxing 12 and up. So as well as the detriment of Brexit UK children will be behind educationally globally due to missing more school and long COVID.
Put masks back on in school and invest in ventilation for winter. “Open a window ffs”
This government is letting it rip through schools and it is disgusting.

Message deleted by MNHQ. Quotes deleted post

Practically every Western country apart from the U.K. is vaccinations over 12’s, but obviously you know best🙄

Lots of lovely variants incubating in the teenage soup

It isn't mandatory!

Those under-18s that want it should be able to have it.

I wish people who don't want to vaccinate their own children would stop trying to stop other children getting vaccinated. It is none of your business and you are only doing to stop your own children possibly missing out.

The MHRA have done the risk assessment. These people are the best experts at new drug approval in the country. They weighed up the benefits and risks and approved the vaccine for over-12s.

Those over-12s that want it should have it - with parental consent for those under 16. So you can still stop your own DC getting vaccinated if you want, but stop trying to prevent other people's DC getting vaccinated.

This is the only way for schools to operation next term because teachers are going to do everything they can to get any ill children and their contacts out of school and isolated at home. They doing this now, even though they have been told to stop.

I really hope they start vaccinating kids. Those % affected by covid might be small, but if the actual number of children catching the virus is larger, so is the number of children affected.